University Professor, Professor of Religion and International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, John L. Esposito is Founding Director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. Previously, he was Loyola Professor of Middle East Studies, College of the Holy Cross. Esposito’s more than 45 books include: The Future of Islam, Islamophobia and the Challenge of Pluralism in the 21st Century, Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think (with Dalia Mogahed), Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, and Islam and Politics.

Muslims and Christians make up more than 50% of the world's population. How they related to one another is pivotal in establishing and maintainging world peace. Are Muslims and Christians working towards uniting humanity or are they directly or indirectly causing more division? Can they work together to address contemporary issues of global magnitude? How can the ideals of interfaith dialogue transform the on-the-ground reality of relations between Christians and Muslims around the globe and particularly here in multi-faith Australia?

Friday, 27 November 2015

Think of it as pilgrimage - a #Ballarat pilgrimage - if you will.
The worldwide People's Climate March
comes to Ballarat to-morrow.
We gather at the corner of Sturt and Armstrong Streets
at 2pm Saturday 28 November.
Then we will walk the short distance
down to Camp Street where there will be speakers.
Let #Paris know that #Ballarat
is serious about getting a good deal for our planet,
a safe future for the people of the world.

As representatives of many religious traditions and different faiths, we stand together in our moral obligation to care for sacred Earth, the most vulnerable people and all human life as a gift entrusted to our common care as we are confronted by the growing impacts of climate change in all corners of the world.

More extreme weather events disrupt food production and water security, exacerbate hunger, cause economic insecurity and forced displacement. We share a common concern for nature and for global social justice, and are deeply concerned that climate change is a threat to precious human life, and to the survival of humanity unless strong and urgent action is taken to address the causes.

We acknowledge the overwhelming scientific evidence that climate change is human induced, and that the failure to address its root causes will result in impacts escalating in intensity and frequency, especially amongst the world's poor and vulnerable who are already bearing the burden disproportionately.

We want world leaders to listen and act decisively for a just transition to clean energy. Australia has the technological and economic capacity to deliver this life-preserving transformation, and it is an opportunity to play our part in addressing the common environmental challenge humanity faces.

Across Victoria's faith communities, we share the call for Australia's and the world's leaders meeting in Paris in December for the United Nations climate summit to act with courage and compassion to address the fundamental drivers of climate change, to care for sacred Earth, and to protect the most vulnerable.

Faith Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peak bodies: Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria, Hindu Community Council of Victoria, Islamic Council of Victoria, Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council of Churches.

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

Children as
young as 11 are being taught skills to identify and ­respond to online
racism as a growing number of extremists take advantage of social media to
promote messages of hate.

The B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation
Commission runs Click Against Hate in more than 60 schools across Victoria
for ­students in Years 5 to 10.

“(The internet is) an ideal ­vehicle
for those who want to disseminate hatred, bigoted rants, lies, bullying,
conspiracy theories and even calls for violence, and thus provides a mask
to individual users to unburden themselves anonymously,” chairman Dvir
Abramovich said.

“Now, every extremist has a
platform and a megaphone through websites, Facebook or YouTube. Young adults
are therefore more vulnerable than ever.”

Dr Abramovich said anti-Semitism,
Islamphobia, homophobia, misogyny and other cultural and racial prejudices
were on the rise because there was an epidemic of internet hate which was
easily ­accessible by students of all ages.

He said the children were often
exposed when there were no adults present and so young ­people must be
prepared to stand up for each other. He said while schools had good
intentions of combating racism and prejudice, it often wasn’t their top
priority, or they didn’t have the resources to ensure that anti-bias and
diversity education were an integral part of the school curriculum.

“Cyber hate and extremist views
migrate and are translated into conduct in the schoolyard ­because such
material incites against minorities, and because students tend to verbalise
and act out the racist views they absorb online on real-world victims,” Dr
Abramovich said.

“Hate material creates anger and
occasionally promotes violent acts against people of other races and
religions.”

In southeast Melbourne,
Stonnington Primary School Year 6 student Isabella said racism was a major
problem that affected a lot of people but often seemed to be overlooked.

She said that while she didn’t
think it was very common for children her age to be affected by racism she
thought they might come across it when they reached high school and became
more ­active on social media.

Fellow student Erin said she had
witnessed online racism a few times, especially after the Paris ­terrorist
attacks.

“I feel like online bullying can
be more common because you can hide behind a screen and don’t have to face
people or suffer consequences,” she said.

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Could readers of Beside The Creek, please note. There was not an awareness of the killings in Beirut when this story was done. The candle lighting part of the service at the Cathedral will include 44 candles for those killed in the Beirut attacks in addition to the 129 candles for those killed in Paris. The condolence books will include one for France and one for Lebanon.

A poignant candlelight vigil and service will be held in the city this week to remember victims of the Paris terrorism attacks.

In the wake of the tragedy, the Ballarat Interfaith Network will hold a service for people of all faiths at the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral on Thursday evening. BIN public relations officer Margaret Lenan Ellis said it was a way to draw the community together in act of love and hope.

A candle will be lit for each of the 129 victims of the terrorist attacks. Anyone attending the event, will also be able write personal messages in a condolence book which will be sent to the French embassy in Canberra in the coming weeks.

“People will be able to write their own messages for peace, hope and forgiveness in the book,” Ms Lenan Ellis said. “We want it to be a way for people to counteract any messages of hate... to stand together in solidarity and peace, in the name of humanity. People of any faith are welcome to attend the service. It is open to everybody in the community.”

Ms Lenan Ellis said it was also crucial recent events did not further isolate the city’s Muslim community.

“We need to try and dispel any prejudices which surround people of Islamic faith that could be further fuelled by these attacks,” Ms Lenan Ellis said.

Her sentiment was echoed by Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council chairman Dr Sundram Sivamalai who urged the Islamic community not to remain silent.

“This violence is not was Islam represents,” Dr Sivamalai said. “It is not what Islam preaches and I would urge the Muslims leaders to have a voice in this tragedy.”

Victims will also be remembered at the Interfaith Network’s Tree of Life – One Voice project which will be held on November 21 between 10am and 3pm at the Buninyong Town Hall and the Uniting Church.

Blue, white and red balloons will be released into the sky at the end of the Tree of Life event to remember those lost and symbolise hope for the future

Our thoughts are with the people of Paris and indeed all the victims of recent tragedies brought on by war, fear, and hate.The challenges facing our world are enormous.The events that unfolded in Paris and Beirut over recent days show just how much more work needs to be done to achieve lasting peace and democracy around the globe. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes must be brought to justice and we must redouble our efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. But we must resist the urge to lash out in anger or retribution because that risks making a terrible situation worse. Hate is the problem, not the answer. We are already seeing those who are trying to escape terror and violence in their homelands blamed for the atrocities of others. Now more than ever we need to stand up for people fleeing violence rather than turning our backs on them. If we don't stand up for the families escaping this cruelty and brutality, who will? We are a movement who believe firmly that there is hope for humanity and the planet. Now more than ever we must come together and not let these hateful actions divide us. Many of us are reeling from the events of the last week. Our hearts go out to the families and friends who have lost people they love, and whose lives have been irreparably changed.

Monday, 16 November 2015

The
Faith Communities Council of Victoria has issued the following statement in
response to the recent acts of violence in Paris andBeirut:

As leaders
and people of faith, we offer our prayers and sympathies to family members and
loved ones of those killed and wounded in Paris and Beirut. The loss of
innocent life is senseless and we pray for the victims of these horribleattacks.

We unequivocally condemn these callous and senseless acts of
violence - no belief, cause, or grievance justifies such acts of violence. We
pray that the perpetrators are found and brought tojustice.

We must remember
these acts are committed by extremists, who although claim to be Muslims, do
not represent the mainstream Muslim approach to religion or sanctity oflife.

Faith
Communities Council of Victoria is comprised of the following peakbodies:

Baha'i Community of Victoria, Brahma Kumaris
Australia, Buddhist Council of Victoria,

Hindu Community Council of Victoria,
Islamic Council of Victoria,

Jewish Community Council of Victoria, Sikh
Interfaith Council of Victoria and Victorian Council ofChurches.

Victorian Faith Networks Council of Victoria

Compass

2018 PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS

Religions getting together in peace

Interfaith Voivces

From the Dacorum Interfaith Network

An Interfaith Tree of Life

Total Pageviews

Joining Ballarat Interfaith Network? Please consider...

B.I.N. welcomes new members from a variety of faiths, belief systems, and spiritualities. Membership for individuals is $10 and for organisations is $50. B.I.N. meets on the 4th Wednesday of every month at the Eastwood Leisure Complex, 20 Eastwood Street, Ballarat at 7pm. B.I.N. members would love to meet you.

The Motto of Ballarat Interfaith Network

What is interfaith dialogue?

Ballarat Interfaith Network has the motto "Conversations not Conversions". Interfaith organisations come from a desire to understand and show respect for those of faiths other than the individual's own faith. These organisations allow friendships and dialogue to develop.
Please go to the following link for more detail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interfaith_dialogue

Title and Background photograph

The title of the blog comes from a Judith Wright poem. To read the poem please go to the post at http://interfaithinballarat.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/wisdom-and-knowledge-gained-beside-creek.html

The background of this blog was taken from a photograph by Brigid O'Carroll Walsh, the author of this blog. The photograph shows oak trees beside the Yarrowee River. It was taken from Esmond Street on Ballarat's historic Black Hill Reserve. Esmond Street forms part of the Yarrowee Trail as well as the Goldfields Track and is a favourite place for walkers, joggers, bikers, and dogs.